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Home , Spanish Armed Forces, Spanish Army, Spanish Navy

, SOME KEY POINTS. NATIONAL DAY 2021

1. THE SPANISH ARMED FORCES

The Spanish Constitution on National Defence establishes the institutional framework and highlights the importance of the Armed Forces by tasking them with the mission of upholding 's and independence and defending its territorial integrity and constitutional order.

Acting as Head of State, King Felipe VI of Spain exercises supreme command over the Armed Forces and, following parliamentary approval, has the authority to declare war and peace. The controls military administration and the Defence of the State.

Since 2002, when compulsory military service was abolished, all men and women in the Armed Forces have been professionals and are, without any type of doubt, being their best asset. Approximately 125.000 are their active military personnel as members of Spanish , Spanish , Air Force and Common Corps. There are also about 20.000 civilians and 5.000 Voluntary Reservists.

2. GEOPOLITICAL POSITION OF SPAIN vs NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

Spain is an European, Atlantic and Mediterranean country that is open to the World. Its vital position in these very important key areas (among , North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic; and with peninsular territory, archipelagos, islands and the sovereign territories in North Africa) makes Spain a bridge between countries and cultures, conferring upon it a specific security profile. This is the reason that Spain is passionately committed to Europe and fully integrated into the international society and the main global security organizations.

Spain is a key member of organizations such as the and the Organization, always accepting its collective responsibilities in matters of security. It should be highlighted that Spain has been a member of NATO since 1982 and contributes to the transformation of this organization in its process of adaptation to new risks and threats to global security.

Under the umbrella of the , NATO, and the European Union, Spain participates in different missions overseas, far from its borders and traditional spaces, in areas and regions such as: Sahel, Eastern Europe, the and Iraq, where the Armed Forces and State Security Forces are deployed.

Currently, the total Spanish contribution to international and permanent deployments consists of 16 missions.

Spanish Armed Forces International Deployment 2021

3. SPANISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY

The new industrial era will be marked by great acceleration of economic, social, and environmental transformations, as well as by technological advances in many areas.

Within the technological advances of this new industrial era, the Defense Industry is an essential engine to drive productivity and innovation. Spain's concern for this matter should maintain and strengthen its role in Europe's industrial leadership in this era of globalization. Strengthening the Defense Industry directly means having a strategic capacity for the operations of our Armed Forces, thus providing freedom of action and ensuring sovereignty. Spain cannot and should not be content with acquiring from abroad what it needs for defense.

The Spanish defense industry faces the challenge of actively participating in consolidate the European Defense Market, in which a greater internationalization opportunities will arise. It is essential to maintain an international cooperation strategy with different companies and organizations from other countries in the world (mainly in European initiatives related to the European Defense Plan).

Speaking about main Spanish Defence Industry figures, these some of them:

 Around 400 companies (nearly 130 export)  Sales: (aprox) 6 billion € and export: (aprox) 70% production  Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and are the main export destinations.  Jobs associated with the sector: (aprox) 50.000  Financial Driving Force: €1 spent on defence generates 2,5 € in the Spanish economy  Ranking of exporter countries: Between 7 and 9 position

4. COVID vs SPANISH ARMED FORCES CONTRIBUTION DURING COVID

It is to be mentioned and stressed the Spanish Armed Forces role during this pandemic (COVID-19) that is sadly sweeping the globe and has come down particularly hard in Spain.

Operation BALMIS, has played a vital role fighting COVID-19. More than 7.700 troops from the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Military Emergency Unit and the Royal Guard have been deployed in the operation. Besides, about 3.000 personnel provided support and health care in hospitals and health centres of the Ministry of Defence.

Since the beginning of the operation, the Spanish Armed Forces have served and being in a total of 1200 locations and cities throughout Spain. The main tasks of operation 'BALMIS I have been: (1) disinfection of critical infrastructures and essential services (2) support to health care assistance and the transfer of patients and deceased (3) support to law enforcement agencies (4) support and installation of field hospitals and centres for vulnerable groups.

5. THE LONGEST VOYAGE: THE FIRST JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD

From 2019 to 2022, three years of celebration, over 200 activities will be held for 500th anniversary of first . This voyage was not only an event of immeasurable importance in the world history and international navigation confirming that the Earth is round but also it was the first great expansion of the Spanish culture and language, beginning the processes of globalization and building a global world.

Only and exclusively with support from the Crown of Spain (Emperor Charles I), the expedition set sail from Seville on 10 August 1519 to find a new route to the Spice Islands. It was not until after three years of tough sailing that the Nao Victoria (the only ship to complete the expedition of the five that originally set sail) captained by the Spanish Juan Sabastian Elcano returned to Sanlucar de Barrameda (Cadiz) on 6 September 1522. had died some months earlier at the Battle of Mactan (). Elcano had already made History circumnavigating our world for the first time in the history.

After almost three years and having covered 14,000 leagues or 48.000 nautical miles the ship reached Spain. The expedition’s original crew of 285 had been reduced to 18 famished and weakened seamen, and …heroes. A glorious chapter in Spanish History had been written.

Pretoria, 04 de junio 2021

CN Lorenzo Gamboa Pérez-Pardo Agregado de Defensa en Sudáfrica, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Madagascar y Lesoto